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Multisensory tutoring for children
with learning differences.
with learning differences.
THE SYMBOLS TEAM
Kimberley Wahl |
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Kimberley co-owns Symbols with her husband Rob. As Director of Education, Kimberley oversees lesson plans, creates multisensory tutoring materials and manages student intake and scheduling, in addition to tutoring several students herself. She holds a BA in Sociology from UBC, is a certified Orton-Gillingham remedial tutor, and holds several additional |
| certificates in multisensory tutoring, including two levels of math, colour-coded grammar and multisensory typing. In her teen years, Kimberley was an accomplished rhythmic gymnast, having competed for the Canadian National Team and performing in international competitions and events throughout North America, Europe and Asia. Kimberley always likes to be organized and prepared well in advance, as evidenced by her trying on ski boots at four years old, seemingly knowing full well she'd be marrying an avid skier. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her husband Rob and their daughter Gracie, snowboarding, and eating cheese (cheddar is her favourite!). |  |
Rob Wahl |
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Rob is a co-owner of Symbols and holds the title of Director of Business Management. Rob's responsible for designing, implementing and managing the business and administration functions at Symbols. He holds a BCom and MBA, both from UBC, where he also worked for several years in his previous life as a Network Administrator and then an IT Auditor. |
| During his spare time, Rob loves spending time with his wonderful wife Kimberley and their daughter Gracie, joining family and friends for dinner and drinks, and working out to maintain his Superman-like physique (not easy after all those dinners and drinks!). He also enjoys hitting the slopes at Whistler and Big White, and working on home improvements. |  |
Mirna Lewis |
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Mirna joined Symbols as a tutor in late 2007 and has since been promoted to the role of Head Tutor, which involves mentoring and guiding other tutors on our team. Mirna has several years of experience as an Orton-Gillingham tutor, and holds OG certificates in language and multisensory math. She has also worked as a teacher in the New Westminster School District after earning her Bachelor of Education at UBC in 2004. |
| Her education also includes a Bachelor of Arts from SFU in addition to an Associate of Arts from Langara College. Her dedication to her students is evident through the effort she puts into lesson planning and her ongoing commitment to professional development. Outside of Symbols, Mirna enjoys spending time with her husband Jon and their family and friends. |  |
Hebah Ali |
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Hebah’s well-rounded background includes earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from UBC, experience in developing and instructing a science club for kids, her training in the Orton Gillingham approach, and tutoring math and science to children of various ages and abilities. |
| Her strong math and science background make her an excellent math tutor here at Symbols, although she is very skilled at helping children with reading and writing as well. Hebah’s gentle and kind-hearted nature enable her to quickly develop a close and lasting rapport with each of her students. In her personal life, Hebah enjoys curling up, either with a good book or on a yoga mat. |  |
Robyn Pritchard |
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Robyn’s education and experience in working with children include a Bachelor of Arts from Wilfred Laurier University where she minored in child education and development, training in the Strong Start literacy program through the Waterloo Region School Board, training in the Orton Gillingham approach, and several years working with children as a day camp director, camp councilor and tutor. |
| Robyn has a wonderful sense of humour, a quality enjoyed by her students and colleagues alike. She enjoys photography, traveling, cooking, animals and entomology (note the all-important comma between "cooking" and "animals", as she generally follows a vegetarian diet). |  |
Linda Yan |
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Linda's impressive background in education includes earning her Bachelor of Arts in English and History from UBC, her TESL certificate from VCC, her Orton Gillingham training and working for several years as a tutor and teacher, both one-to-one and in classrooms. She has tutored in ESL, language and various other subjects. |
| Her career as an ESL teacher has included working in Seoul, Korea and Hong Kong in addition to her native Vancouver. Linda's students benefit from her unwavering focus on always doing the best job she can, which in practice translates to appropriate, well-prepared and well-instructed lessons. Linda is an avid reader, and she enjoys cooking and being entertained by her pet hamster Ursa (not at the same time, as much as we're sure Ursa loves the movie Ratatouille). |  |
